Survival Foods

Widely available in countless flavors. Roughly $2 at grocery, fitness and health food stores.
Nutrition: 190""230 calories, 10""19 grams of protein and 2""50 grams of carbs per bar.
Shelf life: Six to nine months.
Packaging: Tightly sealed in thin but airtight plastic wrappers; lightweight and compact.
Taste: There are a million and one different flavors, but nobody buys these things for their taste. Outdoor Life Online Editor

Developed for the military, these high-energy bars are now available to the public. $21 for 15 bars at hooahbar.com. Nutrition: 280 calories per bar, with 60 percent complex carbohydrates and a blend of vitamins, proteins and electrolytes. Shelf life: One year Packaging: The military version is encased in a heavy-duty trilaminate foil pouch that's designed to withstand an 8,000-foot fall. The commercial version employs a thick metalized polypropylene wrapper. Taste: Surprisingly, it actually tastes like chocolate. Outdoor Life Online Editor

A 3.75-ounce fruit-and-nut bar made of all-natural ingredients including wheat germ, raisins, walnuts, wheat bran, pecans, grape juice, honey, corn, barley, soy flour, soy oil and nonfat milk. $2 at mealpack.com. Nutrition: One bar provides two servings, each of which contains 210 calories, 29 grams of carbs and 8 grams of protein. Shelf life: Six months. Packaging: Tightly sealed in a transparent plastic wrapper. Taste: The texture is rather dry, but the flavor is complex. Also available in a carob-cocoa variety, which is more like a brownie. Outdoor Life Online Editor

Out-of-this-world dried meat, literally: It has gone into space with astronauts. $26 per pound at beefjerky.com. Nutrition: A 1-ounce serving provides 80 calories, 770 milli-grams of sodium, 1 gram of carbs and 17 grams of protein. Shelf life: Three months from date of purchase. Packaging: Vacuum-sealed in a resealable transparent bag. Taste: Tougher to chew than the stuff you get at your local convenience store, but very flavorful. Outdoor Life Online Editor

"Meals ready to eat" are made for combat zones and can be eaten cold right out of the bag or warmed by a variety of methods, including a heat pack. $5 to $10 online or at military surplus stores. Nutrition: Each MRE provides about 1,200 calories. Shelf life: Five years or more when stored at or below 85 degrees Fahrenheit . Packaging: Very durable, but somewhat heavy due to wet content. Taste: Tastes like coagulated chicken noodle soup. Might be better warm, but it wasn't too bad cold. Outdoor Life Online Editor

Preserved through a combination of freezing and dehydrating to maintain nutrients and eliminate the elements that cause food to spoil. From $3 to $5 from mountainhouse.com. Nutrition: A single serving of spaghetti with meat sauce provides 490 calories with high carb and protein counts. Shelf life: Five-year minimum while stored under cool, dry conditions. Packaging: Durable, lightweight and compact. Requires water for rehydrating. Taste: Bland, but at least it was hot . Outdoor Life Online Editor